Telescoping wand assembly with a flexible seal

ABSTRACT

A telescoping wand assembly includes a first tube, a second tube received in the first tube so as to allow sliding movement therebetween and a flexible seal carried on the second tube in sliding engagement with an interior surface of the first tube. A method of making that telescoping wand assembly includes overmolding a flexible seal on the second tube and inserting the second tube in the first tube with the overmolded flexible seal in sliding engagement with an interior surface of the first tube. A vacuum cleaner is also provided incorporating the telescoping wand assembly of this invention.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to a telescoping wand assemblyincorporating an overmolded, flexible seal, a method for making thatwand assembly and a vacuum cleaner incorporating that wand assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is relatively common practice today to provide canister and uprightvacuum cleaners with telescoping wand assemblies. Such assemblies may belengthened or shortened as desired for a particular application bysimply pressing a button and sliding the two sections of the assemblyrelative to each other. A lock then secures the wand assembly at thedesired length. An example of such a wand assembly is found in U.S. Pat.No. 6,148,474.

The present invention relates to a telescoping wand assembly including aflexible seal that provides complete sealing between the inner and outertubes of the telescoping wand assembly so as to enhance the cleaningefficiency of the vacuum cleaner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A telescoping wand assembly includes a first tube, a second tubereceived in the first tube so as to allow sliding movement therebetweenand a flexible seal carried on the second tube in sliding engagementwith an interior surface of the first tube.

More specifically describing the invention, the second tube includes asealing ring at a first end. The sealing ring may be constructed from ahard plastic including material selected from a group consisting ofnylon, polytetrafluoroethylene, ABS and mixtures thereof. Further thesealing ring includes a first receiver engaging the main body of thesecond tube and a second receiver for engaging the flexible seal. Inaddition the second receiver includes a series of locking slots.

The flexible seal includes a body having an integral mounting ring andan annular convex sealing surface. The mounting ring includes aplurality of tangs received in the locking slots of the second receiver.The annular convex sealing surface is resiliently biased into engagementwith the interior surface of the first tube so as to provide a completeseal between the first and second tubes in all positions of thetelescoping wand assembly. Further, the second tube includes a pluralityof spaced locking notches and the first tube carries a releasable lockfor selectively engaging the locking notches and securing thetelescoping wand assembly at a desired length.

In accordance with an additional aspect of the present invention amethod is provided for making a telescoping wand assembly. The methodcomprises the steps of overmolding a flexible seal on a second tube andinserting the second tube in a first tube with the overmolded flexibleseal in sliding engagement with an interior surface of the first tube.

In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention avacuum cleaner is provided comprising a housing, a suction generatorcarried on the housing, a dirt collection vessel carried on the housingand a telescoping wand assembly. As described above that telescopingwand assembly includes a first tube, a second tube received in the firsttube so as to allow sliding movement therebetween and a flexible sealcarried on the second tube in sliding engagement with an interiorsurface of the first tube.

In the following description there is shown and described a preferredembodiment of this invention, simply by way of illustration of one ofthe modes best suited to carry out the invention. As it will berealized, the invention is capable of other different embodiments andits several details are capable of modification in various, obviousaspects all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, thedrawings and descriptions will be regarded as illustrative in nature andnot as restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawing incorporated in and forming a part of thespecification, illustrates several aspects of the present invention andtogether with the description serves to explain certain principles ofthe invention. In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a canister vacuum cleaner incorporatingthe telescoping wand assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a detailed perspective view of the flexible seal of the wandassembly;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the flexible seal illustrated inFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the wand assembly; and

FIG. 5 is a detailed, cross sectional view of the wand assemblyincluding the first tube, the second tube, the flexible seal and thesealing ring.

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodimentof the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is now made to FIG. 1 illustrating the wand assembly 10 of thepresent invention incorporated into the structure of a canister vacuumcleaner 12. The canister vacuum cleaner 12 includes a hose 14 connectingthe wand assembly 10 to the canister housing 16. The canister housing 16includes an internal chamber 18 as well as a suction inlet 20 and anexhaust outlet 22 both communicating with that chamber. A suctiongenerator, in the form of a fan and motor assembly generally designatedby reference numeral 24, is held in the chamber 18. Additionally, a dirtcollection vessel in the form of a filter bag 26 is held in the internalchamber 18 between the suction inlet 20 and the suction generator 24. Asillustrated the vacuum cleaner 12 also includes a nozzle 28 for pickingup dirt and debris. The nozzle 28 is connected to the inlet end 52 ofthe wand assembly 10 opposite the hose 14. The nozzle 28 includes aninlet 30 and an outlet 32. In the illustrated embodiment the nozzle 28houses a motor driven agitator 34 that extends across the inlet 30. Arelease handle 36 allows the operator to disconnect the wand assembly 10from the nozzle 28 when desired. The wand assembly 10 may then be usedalone or in conjunction with other, separate cleaning tools to performvarious cleaning tasks including but not limited to the vacuuming ofbaseboards, windowsills, drapes and upholstery.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5 the wand assembly 10 is a telescopingwand assembly incorporating a first or outer tube 38, a second or innertube 40 received in the first tube so as to allow sliding movementtherebetween and a flexible seal 42 carried on the second tube insliding engagement with an interior surface of the first tube. The firsttube 38 carries a locking mechanism 44 including an actuator 46 and aspring loaded latch of a type well known in the art such as described inU.S. Pat. No. 6,148,474 (see FIG. 7 of that document). Specifically, theoperator engages the actuator 46 to release the latch from one of theseries of aligned locking notches 50 provided along the length of thesecond tube 40. The operator then slides the second tube 40 in or out ofthe first tube 38 in order to adjust the length of the telescoping wandassembly 10. When the operator then releases the actuator 46, the springloaded latch engages in the appropriate locking notch 50 in order tolock the first tube 38 and second tube 40 together and maintain the wandassembly 10 at the desired length. It should be appreciated that in anyoperating position, the flexible seal 42 provides a full and completeseal between the first and second tubes 38, 40 of the wand assembly 10so as to prevent any air leak and insure that the full power of thesuction generator 24 is used to draw air through the inlet end 52 of thewand assembly 10 and thereby provide for maximum cleaning efficiency.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the flexible seal 42 includes abody 54 having an integral mounting ring 56 and an annular convexsealing surface 58. As illustrated the mounting ring 56 includes aplurality of outwardly projecting tangs 60. The flexible seal 42 may beconstructed from a number of materials including but not limited to TPE,PVC and rubber. Reference is now made to FIGS. 4 and 5 which fullyillustrate how the flexible seal 42 is mounted to the second tube 40 andreceived in the first tube 38 of the wand assembly 10.

In the illustrated embodiment, the second tube 40 includes a maintubular body 62 and a sealing ring 64. The sealing ring 64 is securedover the tapered downstream end 66 of the main body 62 by means of afirst receiver or split sleeve 68. The actual mounting and securing ofthe sealing ring 64 to the main body 62 will be described in greaterdetail below.

As further illustrated, the sealing ring 64 also includes a secondreceiver or groove 70 for engaging the mounting ring 56 of the flexibleseal 42. More specifically, the second receiver 70 includes a series oflocking slots 72 that are oriented, sized and shaped to receive thecooperating tangs 60 on the mounting ring 56 of the flexible seal 42.

One possible method of making the telescoping wand assembly 10 comprisesovermolding the flexible seal 42 onto the sealing ring 64 and directlyforming the cooperating tangs 60 in the slots 72. Next, the sealing ring64 with the overmolded flexible seal 42 is mounted to the main tubularbody 62 of the second tube 40. Specifically, the tapered end 66 of themain body 62 is inserted in the first receiver 68. Opposed mounting lugs74 provided along the interior surface of the receiver 68 engage thetapered end 66 and are gradually spread as the tapered end is insertedinto the receiver 68. Once the mounting lugs 74 are aligned with thecooperating cavities 76 formed in the main body 62, the mounting lugs 74engage and nest in the cavities 76 positively securing the sealing ring64 on the tubular body 62. More specifically, the sealing ring 64 isconstructed from a hard plastic such as, for example, nylon,polytetrafluroethylene, ABS and mixtures thereof. Such a material hasthe necessary resilient memory to assure that the mounting lugs 74 arepositively secured and nested in the cavities 76 to complete theconnection.

After connecting the main tubular body 62 with the sealing ring 64, thesecond tube 40 is inserted into the first tube 38 with the overmoldedflexible seal 42 in sliding engagement with an interior surface 78 ofthe first tube as illustrated in drawing FIG. 5. As should beappreciated from reviewing FIG. 3, the convex sealing surface 58 ismolded with a larger diameter than the mounting ring 56. The convexsealing surface 58 must be compressed radially inwardly to be receivedinside the first tube 38. The resilient nature of the flexible seal 42then biases the sealing surface 58 into engagement with the interiorsurface 78 of the first tube 38 thereby insuring a complete and airtightseal around the full circumference of the tubes 38, 40.

The curved outer surface 58 insures that the seal 42 slides easily alongthe interior surface 78 of the first tube 38 when the operator isadjusting the length of the wand assembly 10. That same curved outersurface 58 and the resilient characteristics of the material from whichthe flexible seal 42 is constructed also insures that a full andcomplete seal is maintained between the first and second tubes 38, 40 atall times during vacuum cleaner operation. Accordingly, the gap betweenthe first and second tubes 38, 40 is effectively sealed at all times andair leaks are prevented. As a consequence, the full suction power of thesuction generator 24 is transmitted by the wand assembly 10 to the inletend 52 of the wand assembly 10 in order to provide maximum cleaningefficiency.

The foregoing description of a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention has been presented for purposes of illustration anddescription. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit theinvention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications orvariations are possible in light of the above teachings. For example,the dirt collection vessel may take the form of a dirt cup instead of afilter bag. That dirt cup may include a tangentially directed inlet andan axially directed outlet to produce cyclonic airflow in the dirtcollection chamber.

The embodiment was chosen and described to provide the best illustrationof the principles of the invention and its practical application tothereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the inventionin various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited tothe particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variationsare within the scope of the invention as determined by the appendedclaims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they arefairly, legally and equitably entitled. The drawings and preferredembodiments do not and are not intended to limit the ordinary meaning ofthe claims and their fair and broad interpretation in any way.

1. A telescoping wand assembly, comprising: a first tube; a second tubereceived in said first tube so as to allow sliding movementtherebetween; and a flexible seal carried on said second tube in slidingengagement with an interior surface of said first tube.
 2. Thetelescoping wand assembly of claim 1 wherein said second tube includes asealing ring at a first end.
 3. The telescoping wand assembly of claim2, wherein said sealing ring is constructed from a hard plastic.
 4. Thetelescoping wand assembly of claim 3, wherein said hard plastic isselected from a group consisting of nylon, polytetrafluoroethylene, ABSand mixtures thereof.
 5. The telescoping wand assembly of claim 2,wherein said sealing ring includes a first receiver engaging a main bodyof said second tube and a second receiver engaging said flexible seal.6. The telescoping wand assembly of claim 5, wherein said secondreceiver includes a series of locking slots.
 7. The telescoping wandassembly of claim 6, wherein said flexible seal includes a body havingan integral mounting ring and an annular convex sealing surface.
 8. Thetelescoping wand assembly of claim 7, wherein said mounting ringincludes a plurality of tangs received in said locking slots.
 9. Thetelescoping wand assembly of claim 1, wherein said flexible sealincludes a body having an integral mounting ring and an annular convexsealing surface.
 10. The telescoping wand assembly of claim 9, whereinsaid annular convex sealing surface is resiliently biased intoengagement with said interior surface of said first tube.
 11. Thetelescoping wand assembly of claim 1, wherein said second tube includesa plurality of spaced locking notches and said first tube carries alocking mechanism with a latch for selectively engaging said lockingnotches.
 12. A method of making a telescoping wand assembly including afirst tube and a second tube comprising: overmolding a flexible seal onthe second tube; and inserting the second tube in the first tube toprovide said overmolded flexible seal in sliding engagement with aninterior surface of the first tube.
 13. A vacuum cleaner, comprising: ahousing; a suction generator carried on said housing; a dirt collectionvessel carried on said housing; and a telescoping wand assemblyincluding a first tube, a second tube received in said first tube so asto allow sliding movement therebetween and a flexible seal carried onsaid second tube in sliding engagement with an interior surface of saidfirst tube.
 14. The telescoping wand assembly of claim 13, wherein saidvacuum cleaner is a canister-type vacuum cleaner.
 15. The telescopingwand assembly of claim 13, wherein said vacuum cleaner is anupright-type vacuum cleaner.
 16. The telescoping wand assembly of claim13 wherein said second tube includes a sealing ring at a first end. 17.The telescoping wand assembly of claim 16, wherein said sealing ring isconstructed from a hard plastic.
 18. The telescoping wand assembly ofclaim 17, wherein said hard plastic is selected from a group consistingof nylon, polytetrafluoroethylene, ABS and mixtures thereof.
 19. Thetelescoping wand assembly of claim 13, wherein said sealing ringincludes a first receiver engaging a main body of said second tube and asecond receiver engaging said flexible seal.
 20. The telescoping wandassembly of claim 19, wherein said second receiver includes a series oflocking slots.
 21. The telescoping wand assembly of claim 20, whereinsaid flexible seal includes a body having an integral mounting ring andan annular convex sealing surface.
 22. The telescoping wand assembly ofclaim 21, wherein said mounting ring includes a plurality of tangsreceived in said locking slots.